Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-04
TUESDAY. .....OCTOBER 4, 1887.
The Issue.


that the election of members OF the
General Assembly should this fall be
made even TO seem to turn on the per
sonal fitness of MALONE to be United
States senator. The Democrats, how
ever, have had no choice in the matter.
The personal issue is one Of MAHONE's
own making. He would not allow the
Republicans to hold convention and
throw him overheard as Jonah.
lie would not allow them to meet
in conference. He selected a few
of his personal adherents, in
vited them TO confer with himself,
told them what he desired them TO do,
or, rather, what he intended to do or
have done himself, and then dismissed
them to their homes. He has issued
number OF documents The subject Of
all Of them is WILLIAM MALONE. What
ever may be the title of his pamphlet
or "dodger." it will always tell you, if
you read il between the lines, that the
question to be decided in Virginia next
month is whether MALONE is to he re-
turned TO the United States Senate or
not.
When we recall the terrible earnest
ness with which the people of Virginia
fought in 1888 and the fixed purpose
which they then manifested to be ri 0
MALONE at all hazards we cannot bu
feel confident that deep down i'll the
hearts Of our people similar purpose
is now lodged, though they may seem
in some cities and counties to be luke
warm and careless as to the result OF
the elections which are to take place
five weeks from to-day.
viii you say that to call out the peo-
pie of Virginia merely to decide
whether MALONE shall he returned
to the United States Senate or not
reminds you of
ocean into tempest tossed
TO watt u feather or TO drown a n.y.:
Not so. 1t Is "a personal issue but |
contending with such a man as MALONE,
having more than hundred thousand |
negro voters at the back of his legisla-
tors and numbering among his few
white followers so large a proportion OF
men who are ready to pass any bill
that he orders them to pass,
the Democrats must he pre-
pared TO antagOnize all sorts of |
outrageous measures. In fact, nobody |
can foretell what MALONE would or
would not do if he were TO gain control |
Of the next Legislature. Think of the |
diabolical ingenuity which he would |
manifest in devising schemes for pun
ishiug the people OF this and other |
cities in tho Commonwealth for their |
refusal to rally to his standard. Think |
of the purposes to which he would de
vote the States resources Think Of |
how much money he could use |
hereafter in corrupting elections !
if he should get passed bill |
providing for fifty or a hundred sala
ried officers in Virginia. all of them to
be designated by him--all of them TO
draw their salaries from the owners of
real estate. Think Of the hundreds of
columns Of advertisements which he
would thus be able to crowd into the
columns OF his newspaper organs
throughout the State, all to be paid for
by the property-owners. Think of re-
peahng the charter Of Richmond
and putting this city under the
government of MAHoNr's tools.
Think Of the police as your enemies,
as they would be if appointed by
MALONE commission, and then imagine
if you can the untold horrors that
would follow in the train of his devil
ish measures.
Yes, the issue is as MALONE has made
it. II is personal one but it in
wolves all that you hold dear. Pray
try to forecast the best that you could
hope for if MAHoSR should carry the
approaching elections, and then hasten
TO do your duty as Democrat and as
al oood citigan